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By Alberto Jessurun / October 13, 2021 / Blog

7 New and Emerging Trends in Sports Security

New technologies are improving security at sports venues, here’s what you need to know.

Key Takeaways

Connected technologies are improving communications and real-time situation awareness.
Video cameras can tell people to leave an area or stop what they are doing
Couple video surveillance with tips from fans to improve security
Algorithms and security cameras should work together to spot suspicious items
Text mining allows sports venues to identify threats on social media
Technology can help track ejected fans and make sure they leave

To secure sporting events and ensure attendees are as safe as possible, security teams use a variety of different tactics. These pros are constantly refining their approach to reduce threats and improve safety as much as possible. Video surveillance has long been the norm for sporting venues, but now, security teams are using video in new ways and embracing a range of emerging technologies that can make events safer than ever.

This guide looks at seven emerging trends in sport event security. It provides a brief overview of how various security technologies work and explains how they will improve both security and the attendee experience at sporting events.

1. Interconnectivity

Sporting event security has always been a multi-pronged effort that relied on multiple sources, including security personnel, surveillance cameras, officers on patrol, 911 call centers, and even tips from event attendees. However, new technology is evolving to make these sources even more connected.

In the not-so-distant future, a police officer responding to an emergency at a sports venue may have video surveillance from the venue, nearby traffic cameras, and even bystanders automatically streamed into their vehicle to them establish situational awareness before they enter the venue.

Similarly, security personnel may have access to dashboards that provide an interactive real-time view of what is happening at the event. The dashboards may combine information from multiple sources, including law enforcement, surveillance cameras, or even threatening social media posts. These changes will improve security at the venue, but they will also allow monitoring of the surrounding area, including the air space over the event.

2. Improved communication

The security at large sporting events can involve multiple entities, including private security companies, local law enforcement, and people from state and federal agencies. Facilitating communication between all of these people can be challenging, especially when an incident at the event requires extra personnel to come to the scene.

There are already apps that allow first responders to communicate easily even if they use different systems and cannot communicate directly by radio. As technology evolves, there will also be systems that allow everyone involved in the security of a large sporting event to communicate with each other. This development will create faster response times and enhance everyone’s safety and security.

3. Interactive video surveillance

Video surveillance at sporting events is not new, but it's being used in new ways. Security teams are positioning security cameras not just in the event venue but in the surrounding area so they can monitor what the crowds are doing while they are at the event but also after they leave the venue.

Typically, someone in a security operations center watches the video feed and dispatches first responders to the scene if anything goes wrong. These surveillance cameras can also help provide evidence after an incident.

However, some cameras are now being outfitted with technology that allows them to blow horns, set off sirens, or use live voices to tell people to leave an area or stop what they are doing. Although this is not a foolproof method of crowd control, these features help reduce risks and deter crime.

4. Using security cameras with other information

In other cases, sports venues are using security cameras in conjunction with other information to improve their security efforts. For example, some venues are combining security cameras with information from fan hotlines.

If a fan calls in to report a tip, the security personnel can immediately check out the surveillance videos monitoring that area. Then, they can send a clip of a video to the responding security officer, so they can see what the unruly fan looks like before they get to the area.

5. Algorithms to spot suspicious items

Modern security cameras can also be programmed with algorithms that spot signs of suspicious activity. For example, a security camera can look for abandoned bags and then find the person who left them. This reduces the risk of someone leaving a bomb or similar threat in a sports venue.

6. Leveraging text mining

Contemporary security methods are going beyond physical measures to monitor social media, online forums, and other websites where threats may emerge. Analytics software can use text mining or natural language processing to quickly scan publicly available information on social media for indications of potential threats.

This data provides real-time insights on potential threats, and it allows law enforcement and security personnel to identify and mitigate threats before they become an issue. This same type of technology can also be used to generate situational intelligence to speed up response times during an emergency.

7. Tracking ejected fans

Smart technology now allows security personnel to quickly gather information about fans who are ejected from sporting events. Security guards can use smart readers to collect information and a photograph of the person they are ejecting. Then, they upload this information to a database so other sports venues in the area don't allow the ejected person into their venue.

The National Football League has been using this technology for over five years, and it helps to ensure that someone ejected from one football stadium cannot attend any other NFL events. However, in the case of the NFL, ejected fans can get a second chance if they attend a course on fan conduct.

Contact Unisol to talk about your security needs

At Unisol, we help businesses scope and quote out technology projects, and we also offer project design, installation, and more. Ready to boost security at your sports venue? Then, contact us today. We can help you figure out the right technology and implementation strategy for your venue's unique needs.

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7 New and Emerging Trends in Sports Security

New technologies are improving security at sports venues, here’s what you need to know.

1. Interconnectivity

2. Improved communication

3. Interactive video surveillance

4. Using security cameras with other information

5. Algorithms to spot suspicious items

6. Leveraging text mining

7. Tracking ejected fans

Contact Unisol to talk about your security needs

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